Book on Baichung

Beyond the Goal – The official Biography of Baichung Bhutia written by Mohammed Amin-ul Islam and published by Random House India will be released on the August 11, 2014. It has the foreword by Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar. The author of the book, Amin has worked at various publications, namely Amrita Bazar Patrika, The Asian Age, The Pioneer, The Indian Express, Sahara TV, Zee Sports and, most recently, The Times of India in Delhi, where he served as Special Correspondent for six years before moving to Qatar. Now based in Doha, he focuses on interacting with the who’s who of World Football.

Baichung Bhutia — dubbed the Sikkimese Sniper for his amazing shot accuracy — has been winning young and old hearts alike with his rare skill and boyish charm since 1993. He serves as a benchmark not only for Indian football, but also for Asian football, and was one of the best players in the region for over a decade.

In fact, even today, he remains the only iconic face of Indian football to the outside world. Baichung’s career has not been without controversy and Beyond the Goal delves into the footballers relationships with his coaches, the clubs he played with, and his much debated retirement. Amin takes us through the good, the bad, and the ugly of football in India by doggedly retracing Baichung’s own highs and lows.

Featuring never-before-seen photographs and including accounts of Baichung by fellow athletes Mary Kom and Sunil Chhetri, Beyond the Goal is the story of India’s footballing icon.Born in Tinkitam, Sikkim, Baichung Bhutia is India’s most capped footballer. Beginning his career at the East Bengal Club, he went on to become the first Indian player to sign for a European club when he joined Bury FC in 1999.

Bhutia, who has a football stadium named after him in honour of his contribution to Indian football (the first player to have such honour while he is still playing), has also won many awards including the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.

In October 2010, he founded Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in Delhi and in August 2011, Bhutia announced his retirement from international football. His farewell match was with the India national team on 10 January 2012 against Bayern Munich at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.